The maintenance and janitorial contract for the Trigg County Justice Center was been awarded to GFB after a recommendation from the state’s Administrative Office of the Courts, Trigg County Judge-Executive Stan Humphries said this week.

The contract will begin immediately in preparation for the opening of the justice center, said Humphries, adding that GFB is a local company that will hire local workers.

“GFB has been in the business of janitorial services for many years and has an excellent reputation,” Humphries said in a press released dated to last Wednesday.

Earlier in the year, the Trigg County Fiscal Court had awarded the contract to Linc Government Services, a Hopkinsville firm that originally had the lowest bid, while GFB had a larger bid, although this approval was dependent upon final approval by the AOC, Humphries said.

Humphries said that since the dollar per square foot amount that was to be paid was the same as in Christian County, he didn’t see any reason to think it would be a problem.

The exact dollar amounts for the first and second bids were not available at press time.

However, the AOC changed the dollar per square foot amount that they were willing to pay, and as a result the lowest bid was still too high, and AOC asked the contract to be re-bid, according to Humphries.

Both companies were told they could revise their bids, and when both of the firms re-bid, Linc’s bid was still above the budgeted amount, while GFB’s bid was lower than Linc’s bid, and was $5,000 lower than the budgeted amount, said Jamie Ball, public information specialist for the AOC.

GFB provided a lower bid, while Link’s bid was the same as before, and the AOC instructed Humphries to award them the contract so that they could start work immediately, the judge executive noted.

“The process was handled fairly and in accordance with the AOC’s administrative procedures,” Ball said.

Additionally, the new justice center will officially be dedicated on the morning of Friday, Oct. 30, at 11 a.m., it was announced last week.

The details of the dedication, however, have not yet been worked out, according to Humphries, who added that as part of the dedication, the time capsule will be placed in the building and sealed up.

Humphries also said they are planning to start moving into the new justice center on Monday, Aug. 24.

Circuit Court Clerk Pam Perry said Monday that her office will be closed for business all of next week while her staff moves into the justice center. No written or driving tests will be given Monday. The office will be open in its new location Monday, Aug. 31. Perry advised those entering the building to be prepared for security checks.